[News] As war widens, US assets become easy targets

[Anti-Imperialist News]

 As war widens, US assets become easy targets

US economic and military interests across West Asia could come under direct
fire as Israel's aggressions drag Washington into a region-wide escalation.

Mohamad Hasan Sweidan <https://thecradle.co/authors/mohamad-hasan-sweidan>

AUG 7, 2024 -
https://thecradle.co/articles/as-war-widens-us-assets-become-easy-targets
(Photo Credit: The Cradle)

During a White House press conference
<https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/press-briefings/2024/07/31/press-briefing-by-press-secretary-karine-jean-pierre-secretary-of-agriculture-tom-vilsack-and-national-security-advisor-john-kirby/>
on
31 July, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby underscored the US
commitment to maintaining readiness to protect its security interests in
West Asia.

We have and will maintain a level of readiness to preserve our national
security interests in the region. It’s not like we take a blind eye to what
Iran is capable of doing and has shown their capability of doing in the
region.

His comments came amid spiked regional tensions, the highest since 7
October. Protecting Washington’s interests in the Levant and the Persian
Gulf is a top priority for the Biden administration, especially given Tel
Aviv’s dangerous recent provocations, including attacks and assassinations
in Beirut, Tehran, and Hodeidah – inside key countries within the Axis of
Resistance
<https://thecradle.co/articles/resistance-axis-a-calculated-simultaneous-strike-on-israel>,
which could escalate into a major conflict threatening US interests.

*US militarization in West Asia*

Nearly a month after the Gaza war began, the Pentagon outlined its primary
goals
<https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/3581319/us-has-4-objectives-in-middle-east/>
in
West Asia. These include protecting US forces and citizens, ensuring the
continuous flow of critical security assistance to the occupation state,
coordinating with occupation authorities to secure the release of prisoners
held by Hamas, including American citizens, and bolstering the US military
presence to deter any state or non-state actors from escalating the crisis
further. Clearly, Washington’s focus extends well beyond Gaza.

As of last October, when the Gaza war erupted following Hamas’ Operation
Al-Aqsa Flood, over 45,000 US troops
<https://www.axios.com/2023/10/31/american-troops-middle-east-israel-palestine>
were
stationed in West Asia, spread across US military bases in about 12
countries. This number does not include the naval fleets permanently
stationed in the region’s many waterways.
US military presence in West Asia

Additionally, the US intermittently deploys thousands of troops to respond
to crises and rising tensions, as evidenced by the relocation
<https://edition.cnn.com/2023/11/03/politics/us-military-buildup-middle-east-dg/index.html>
of
nearly 1,200 service members and thousands more aboard the Navy aircraft
carrier and the deployment of the nearly 2,000-strong Marine expeditionary
unit following the war on Gaza’s onset.

In response to the escalating situation, particularly after Israel’s targeted
assassinations <https://thecradle.co/articles-id/26225> of senior Hezbollah
commander Fuad Shukr and Hamas politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh in Beirut and
Tehran, respectively, the US Department of Defense announced
<https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3860557/deputy-pentagon-press-secretary-sabrina-singh-statement-on-force-posture-in-the/>
strategic adjustments to its military posture in the region.

These adjustments have two main goals: enhance the protection of US forces
and support Israel’s defense. To maintain a robust presence, Secretary of
Defense Lloyd Austin ordered the USS Abraham Lincoln strike carrier group
to replace the USS Theodore Roosevelt in the Pentagon’s Central Command
area of responsibility.

He also deployed additional cruisers and destroyers capable of defending
against ballistic missiles to the US European Command and US Central
Command regions. Furthermore, the Pentagon is increasing its readiness to
deploy additional land-based ballistic missile defenses and has ordered the
deployment of an extra fighter squadron to West Asia.

These adjustments augment the extensive capabilities the US military
already maintains in the region, including the USS Wasp Ready Amphibious
Group/Marine Expeditionary Unit operating in the Eastern Mediterranean.

*US economic imperium in West Asia *

In addition to the significant US military build-up in West Asia, US
civilian companies also play a major role in the region, primarily in
critical sectors involving oil and gas, technology, and telecommunications.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) into West Asia saw remarkable growth in
2023, with companies announcing
<https://www.meed.com/middle-east-is-the-fourth-most-attractive-region-for-fdi>
1,848
projects worth an estimated $88.3 billion. As a result, West Asia ranked as
the fourth most attractive region for FDI in 2024 in terms of investor
interest.

The US was the leading source of FDI into West Asia in 2023, with US firms
announcing 362 projects valued at $36 billion. This represented a notable
increase in capital investment, with more than double the figures from the
previous year.

These companies are heavily concentrated in the Persian Gulf states,
particularly Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and Oman – as well as Israel.
The occupation state is a particularly accessible destination for US
investment in the region, with US FDI (equities) into Israel alone
reaching $42.5
billion
<https://ustr.gov/countries-regions/europe-middle-east/middle-eastnorth-africa/israel>
in
2022. This investment is focused mainly on manufacturing, information
services, and professional, scientific, and technical services.

*Closure of the Strait of Hormuz*

The possibility of Iran closing the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway at
the mouth of the Persian Gulf, is a recurring concern whenever tensions
with the Islamic Republic rise. This strait is a crucial shipping route,
handling nearly 30 percent
<https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/203eb8eb-2147-4c99-af07-2d3804b8db3f/StraitofHormuzFactsheet.pdf>
of
the world’s oil trade.

It connects the Persian Gulf to the Indian Ocean, from Iran to the north,
and the UAE and Oman to the south. The danger of this corridor during times
of tension lies in its shallow depth, which leaves passing ships vulnerable
to mines. Its proximity to the Iranian mainland also makes ships
susceptible to attacks by coastal missiles or interception by patrol boats
and helicopters.

The closure of the strait would have immediate effects on global energy
prices. In the first quarter of 2024, tankers shipped nearly 15.5 million
barrels
<https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-17/could-iran-impact-oil-trade-by-disrupting-shipping-in-the-strait-of-hormuz>
per
day of crude and condensate from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, the UAE, and
Iran through the strait. The strait is also a critical liquefied natural
gas (LNG) corridor, with more than a fifth of the world’s supply, mostly
from Qatar, passing through during the same period.

*Americans will pay the price *

As noted previously by *The Cradle*
<https://thecradle.co/articles/axis-of-resources-gaza-war-spells-disaster-for-europes-energy-security>,
a World Bank study indicated that any tension in the region would directly
impact energy prices, with the rate of increase varying according to the
level of tension. This issue is particularly significant now, as US polls
show that most voters prioritize the domestic economy.

For instance, a February Pew
<https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2024/02/29/americans-top-policy-priority-for-2024-strengthening-the-economy/>
survey
found that 73 percent of voters consider strengthening the economy a top
priority. Consequently, Iran has the potential to influence American voter
sentiment indirectly by affecting energy prices through actions involving
the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

The likelihood of a regional war is becoming increasingly tangible due to
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s persistent aggressive policies
in Gaza and the broader region. This potential multi-front conflict could
reach unprecedented levels, especially considering Iran’s perception that
its very existence as an Islamic Republic is at stake.

In such a scenario, Tehran and other members of the Resistance Axis would
likely deploy all available resources and strategies to defend their
collective interests. And if US military forces or facilities become
directly engaged, US interests – both military and economic – will be at
the heart of the confrontation.

Deploying more US troops and assets into the region at such a critical
juncture only broadens American target banks for the Axis.
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